numbers in the wilderness - the bible challenge 59,300 22,200 ... “return, o l , to the ten...
TRANSCRIPT
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Numbers
In the Wilderness
(Chapters 1-10)
“And he brought Abram
outside and said, “Look
toward heaven, and
number the stars, if you
are able to number
them—so shall your
offspring be.”
–Genesis 15:5
In the Wilderness
Structure Part I: The Death of the Old Generation
I. Obedient Beginnings: Preparation for the March of the Holy
People of God in the Wilderness (1-10)
II. An Abrupt Slide into Rebellion: The Death of the First
Wilderness Generation Begins (11-20)
III. Hitting Bottom: The End of the First Generation –Signs of
Hope in the Midst of Death (21-25)
Part II: The Rise of a New Generation on the Edge of the Promised
Land (26-36)
Obedient Beginnings: Preparations for the
March of the Holy People of God in the
Wilderness
Census of the Twelve Tribes: Grains of Sand, Stars of
Heaven, Promises of God When Israel entered Egypt under Joseph they numbered 70, now the
promises of God to the Patriarchs have been fulfilled. The number of
Israelites adds up to over 600,000 fighting men (which would
correspond to over 2 Million souls when you add women, children
and the elderly). It remained for the Israelites to take possession of
the Land of Promise.
Two Lists: A Great Multitude
Moses is commanded by YHWH to take two census, they are found in
Numbers 1 and 26.
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Numbers 1 Numbers 26 Reuben 46,500 43,730
Simeon 59,300 22,200 Gad 45,650 40,500 Judah 74,600 76,500
Issachar 54,400 64,300 Zebulun 57,400 60,500 Ephraim 40,500 32,500 Manasseh 32,200 52,700 Benjamin 35,400 45,600 Dan 62,700 64,400 Asher 41,500 53,400 Naphtali 53,400 45,400 Totals 603,550 601,730
The number of fighting men at roughly 600,000 is the same as that
given in Exodus 12:37: “The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to
Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.”
The large number is either amazing or impossible. There have been
several explanations given by scholars who have reflected on this:
1. It is a theologically symbolic quantity for a “great multitude” (12 X
50,000). There are six tribes listed above 50,000 and six below
50,000.
2. The number is accurate. There have been probability studies
related to population growth rates that would correspond to the
number based on quality living conditions in Egypt and the fact that
Hebrew women were “vigorous” (Exodus 1:20) in their reproduction.
3. The number is a scribal mistranslation. The case has been made
that the Hebrew word for “thousands” (’elep) is semantically similar
to the Hebrew word for “tribal chieftain” (’allup). So the result would
be for example, Rueben would have 46 tribal-chieftains and 500 men.
4. The numbers have simply been deliberately and hyperbolically
exaggerated by a factor of 10. Again, with Rueben: 46,500 would
have been 4,650.
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Thus did the people of
Israel; they did
according to all that the
LORD commanded
Moses. –Numbers 1:54
“Consecrate to me all
the firstborn. Whatever
is the first to open the
womb among the people
of Israel, both of man
and of beast, is mine.”
–Exodus 13:2
Obedience As the Israelites were organizing for the first march through the
wilderness, they showed faithfulness and obedience to the command
of YHWH through Moses. (1:54, 2:34, 8:20, 9:5) Examples include the
faithful census, the organization of the Levites for Tabernacle service
and transport (1:47-53); the arrangement of the Israelite camps, the
redemption of the firstborn, and the keeping of the Passover.
The Israelites demonstrated faithfulness and orderliness. The camp of
the Israelites was ordered around the Tabernacle. Later in the
Numbers, Balaam’s third oracle will reflect on the Eden-like beauty of
the Israelite camp:
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!
Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
–Numbers 24:5-6
The Redemption of the Firstborn In Exodus, the YHWH redeemed Israel from Egypt and declared that
the firstborn of every Israelite tribe belonged to him. In Numbers, we
see that the Levites serve as an acceptable substitute for the
fulfillment of this commitment. “Take the Levites instead of all the
firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites
instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.”
However, in Numbers 3, we read that the number of Levites was
close but not enough, 22,000 Levites vs. 22,273 first born males. The
difference of 273 was paid by the redemption price of 5 shekels of
silver paid to the sanctuary (according to the valuations of a person
for a vow, see Leviticus 27:6).
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The Sons of Kohath, Gershon and Merari Within the Levite tribe, the Lord set apart subsets with the particular
task of “carrying” the Holy Things, the curtains of Tabernacle, and the
frames and structure of the Tabernacle when the tribes were on the
move. Only the sons of Aaron could handle the Holy Things, but once
prepared for transport, the entire tabernacle complex could be
moved. Yet even in its movement the tabernacle manifest the
Holiness of God:
Number 4:18 “Let not the tribe of the clans of
the Kohathites be destroyed from among the
Levites, 19 but deal thus with them, that they
may live and not die when they come near to
the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall
go in and appoint them each to his task and to
his burden, 20 but they shall not go in to look on
the holy things even for a moment, lest they
die.”
The Levites stand organized and ready to serve and care for the
tabernacle and its movement through the wilderness.
Clean and Unclean, Adultery and Nazirite Vows The emphasis in chapter 5 is on the institution of the laws related to
governance of the non-Levites. Israelites complied with the clean and
unclean by setting the unclean “outside the camp”. “And the people
of Israel did so.” (5:4) Notice again the emphasis on the Israelites
obedience to the Laws—a good start as they embark from Sinai.
The test for adultery has echos of the golden calf episode where
Israel had to drink the dust of crushed up idol. The woman suspected
of adultery by her husband is told to drink the water of bitterness
made from the dust of the floor of the tabernacle. While this law may
seem one sided toward the man, recognize that it provides for a way
for the Israelites to be free from the destructive forces of the Spirit of
Jealousy within their midst. The woman is “clean” and “free” so long
as she remains faithful to her husband—even if he suspects
otherwise!
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The Nazirite Vow
A Nazirite was a man or woman who made a special dedication of
themselves to the Lord. They took on three commitments: Drink no
alcohol, cut not hair, touch no dead bodies.
Several figures in the Bible were dedicated in this way: Joseph (Gen.
49:26), Samson (Judges 13:5), Samuel (1 Sam. 1:11). Samson will
break all three commitments in Judges 14:8-9 (lion carcass), 14:10
(drinking feast), 16:15-22 (Delilah).
Any vow made by an Israelite is a matter of utmost seriousness. The
keeper of such a vow can be used by God in powerful ways. The
violation of such a vow can have disastrous consequences for not
only the individual but the entire community.
The Aaronic Blessing
Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you
shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to
them,
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and
be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and
give you peace.
27 “So shall they put my name upon the people
of Israel, and I will bless them.” (6:23-27)
The posture of the LORD toward Israel was one of blessing. The LORD
promised his continuing presence manifesting grace and peace to the
Israelites. Sadly, this blessing could be taken for granted.
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“And whenever the
cloud lifted from over
the tent, after that the
people of Israel set out,
and in the place where
the cloud settled down,
there the people of
Israel camped.”
–Numbers 9:17
The Blessing to the Lord In chapter seven, we see the Israelites manifesting faithfulness in
making the appropriate first round of obedience in offerings to the
Lord. Each tribe gave the appointed sacrifices as required by the law
recorded in Leviticus. Again, the Israelite are making a good and
faithful start. And all was right in the relationship the channels of
communication between Moses and the Lord were open. (Numbers
7:89)
They keep a faithful Passover in Chapter 9. Israel is ready to embark
into the Wilderness. They are organized, instructed and obedient for
the journey to the Promised Land.
The Cloud and Fire The journey would be led by the Lord. The Israelites would know
when to make camp and when to travel based on the cloud and fire
over the Ark of the Covenant.
And so the Israelites set out:
33 So they set out from the mount of the
LORD three days' journey. And the ark of
the covenant of the LORD went before them
three days' journey, to seek out a resting
place for them. 34
And the cloud of the LORD
was over them by day, whenever they set out
from the camp.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said,
“Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be
scattered, and let those who hate you flee
before you.” 36
And when it rested, he said,
“Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand
thousands of Israel.” (10:33-36)